Now that quarterback Andrew Luck has chosen to stay at Stanford for the 2011 season, the aftereffects are being felt in football circles.

Here are answers for three big questions arising from Luck’s decision.

1. What should the Carolina Panthers do with the first overall pick?

In our view, this may have made things easier for the Panthers. We say this based on their stated preference to hire a coordinator who has never been a head coach rather than spend big bucks on a big-name former head coach. That leads us to believe they would prefer not to spend the huge money required to sign a quarterback with the first overall pick.

This leaves the Panthers with a choice of taking one of the group of elite prospects — Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley, Clemson defensive end Da'Quan Bowers, Georgia wide receiver A.J. Green and Texas A&M end/linebacker Von Miller — or trying to trade down to a team that wants one of those four.

I don’t believe the Panthers would reach and take a different quarterback with the top overall pick because, as we stated above, they will be happy not to spend the money on a QB.

With Luck out of the picture, the Panthers should hire a head coach with a specialty in developing quarterbacks and have him go to work with youngsters Matt Moore, Jimmy Clausen and Tony Pike. Former NFL coordinator Marc Trestman, who has won the last two CFL Grey Cups with Montreal, Bears coordinator Mike Martz and Jets coordinator Brian Schottenheimer fit that profile.

2. How will Luck’s decision affect the other quarterbacks in the draft?

We think Luck’s move will cause Missouri’s Blaine Gabbert to move up the most. That’s because he is the most polished and NFL- ready of the top quarterbacks available (Gabbert, Washington’s Jake Locker, Arkansas’ Ryan Mallett and Auburn’s Cam Newton).

Gabbert was viewed as a likely late first-round pick when he declared for the draft earlier this week. But he likely would have gone between picks 10 and 20 because quarterbacks usually go higher than expected. Now, without Luck on the board, Gabbert could move into the top-10.

3. What is the impact on Luck’s future?

Luck’s decision is risky financially, but in terms of his long-term development it could turn out to be the best decision he ever made.

Unlike past situations with quarterbacks such as Locker, Matt Leinart and Brady Quinn, Luck is a clearcut No. 1. He would definitely have been the top overall pick this year and he will clearly own that slot in 2012.

Locker, Quinn and Leinart didn’t fall in the draft by staying an extra year. They were hyped as potential top picks, but NFL scouts who had broken down film on all of them did not feel they would be considered for the No. 1 spot.

Stanford has likely told Luck it will not blow things up while replacing coach Jim Harbaugh, who is expected to take an NFL job. Look for the Cardinal offense to be pretty much the same as the one Luck played in this season.

Although Luck is taking an injury risk by returning to Stanford, the truth is that a career-ending injury is rare with the advancements in medicine and surgery. The bigger risk for Luck is the repercussions from a new CBA that will be completed after this year’s draft. There will be a rookie salary cap in place a year from now, but this will only have a major impact on Luck if he turns out to be a bust.

If he becomes a very good starting quarterback, as we expect, he’ll make a ton of money in his second contract. Even average quarterbacks like Eli Manning have been paid big bucks in their contract extensions. Luck will never have money problems in his life.

For more than 200 player scouting reports from Russ Lande and his team of former NFL scouts plus a weekly updated Mock Draft and Super 99 player rankings, go to warroom.sportingnews.com.